I do not want you fearful of this world, of your life.
I do not want you thinking you need protection
because you are strong and confident.

Instead, my sweet faces...
I will protect your childhood.
I will protect your happy.
I will protect your smile.
I will protect your love for life and adventure.
I will protect your fearless nature.
I will protect your laugh.
I will protect your natural joy.
I will protect your creative side.
I will protect your curious side.
I will protect your nerdy side.

I will protect your love.
I will keep it well within my grasp.
And I will protect the love that we have for you.
I will make sure you know where to find it.
I will make sure you know where to find even more of it when you feel empty.
Because I will protect your happy,
I will protect your childhood.
I will protect your memories.
The ones you need to look back on to get you out of bed,
the ones you need when you are raising your own families.
I will protect who you were, so you can learn to become who you are meant to be.

Unfortunately,
I cannot protect your heart.
It will get broken.
It will be shattered,
because any life worth living will do that to you.

I cannot protect your soul,
because at times, it will be run through the mud.

I cannot protect your forever.
Because nothing lasts.

I cannot protect your cries,
they will come.
Tears will come.

But, I can remind you that even when you have come undone,
there is beauty,
there are reasons to smile
there are reasons to get up
there are reasons to go back to a happy childhood and remember where you came from.

I cannot protect you from this world
I wouldn't really want to
even if I want to
but I will protect your childhood.